Biologic therapies
Biologic therapies for RA, such as Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) inhibitors or newer therapeutic antibodies that target B or T cells, are often prescribed in addition to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) as treatment for patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis. The biologic therapies work in different ways, but all block specific steps in the inflammation process.
The most common biologic therapies for rheumatoid arthritis are TNF inhibitors. Examples include drugs such as etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab. However, nearly 30% of people with severe rheumatoid arthritis do not respond well to or cannot tolerate existing TNF inhibitors treatment.3,4
Biologic therapies that target B cells and T cell activation have been shown to offer effective and lasting treatment benefits in rheumatoid arthritis sufferers who have not responded well to TNF inhibitors. These drugs offer a different approach to treating rheumatoid arthritis. Examples of these biologic therapy drugs include rituximab and abatacept.
References:
3. Hyrich KL, Lunt M, Watson KD, et al. Outcomes after switching from one anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha agent to a second anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha agent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results from a large UK national cohort study. Arthritis & Rheumatism 2007; 56(1): 13-20
4. Smolen J S, Keystone E C, Emery P et al. Consensus statement on the use of rituximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Disease 2007; 66(2): 143-50